Luis Diaz scores twice in three minutes leaving his father, watching on, in tears as Colombia produce comeback to beat Brazil.
His father, Luis Manuel Díaz Jiménez, was able to reunite with his son two days ago after being released following a 12-day ordeal with his abductors last week.
He was visibly emotional at Diaz being responsible for Colombia’s victory, netting two goals late on against Alisson, in the 75th and 78th minute in the World Cup qualifier.
His father was seen clearly overwhelmed by what he had just witnessed, having to be held up by some fans after slumping to the ground after his son scored the second goal.
Luis Diaz scoring for Colombia to equalise against Brazil with his Dad watching on in the stands is one hell of a moment. pic.twitter.com/ytJTMNeJkR
— HLTCO (@HLTCO) November 17, 2023
Honestly, you’d need to have a heart of stone not to be moved by the clips of Luis Diaz’s Dad watching him score for Colombia against Brazil last night.
Beautiful.
— HLTCO (@HLTCO) November 17, 2023
You think the video was good when Diaz equalised v Brazil, look at the scenes when he scored the winner 👏🏻👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/gb5fTLijTE
— Spank The Bookies (@SpankTheBookies) November 17, 2023
Alisson approached Luis Diaz immediately after full-time despite Brazil losing to Colombia. He knew what the game meant to the whole Diaz family.pic.twitter.com/1OVmCJiLpo
— DaveOCKOP (@DaveOCKOP) November 17, 2023
It was on the 28th of October that armed men on motorcycles kidnapped both of Luis Diaz’s parents from a gas station in Barrancas.
His mother, Cilenis Marulanda, who also was at the match against Brazil, had thankfully been rescued within hours by police who set up roadblocks around the town of 40,000 people, near the border of Colombia and Venezuela.
After the kidnapping, special forces were sent to look for Diaz’s father in a mountain range that sits along Colombia and Venezuela.
Police put out a $48,000 reward for information that led to him, with it uncertain as to who carried out the abduction.
Colombia’s government then found out that a unit of the National Liberation Army, or ELN, had been responsible in the kidnapping,
Then the group acknowledged the kidnapping, saying it was a mistake and that its top leadership had ordered the father’s release.
Both parents of Luis Diaz were taken amid peace negotiations between Colombia’s government and the guerrilla group. Authorities arrested four suspects over the weekend, with the culprits told to stop laughing by the state prosecutor when they appeared before a judge on Thursday.
They protested their innocence at a hearing to decide over if they should be remanded in jail pending an ongoing criminal probe.
A state prosecutor who took offence at their attitude said: “It seems like the detainees find this funny. They’re laughing and I ask them to show more respect. This is a serious matter.”
This is the moment Luis Diaz was reunited with his father. ❤ pic.twitter.com/HStE4fT9xe
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) November 14, 2023
After Colombia’s win against Brazil, Luis Diaz said he endured “hard moments” over the last few weeks, but added: “Life makes you strong and brave and I think that’s football, and not just football but life.
“I’m grateful to my team-mates, to the coaching staff who were always there for me at every moment.
“And I dedicate the victory to the people, who deserved it.”
Brazil keeper Alisson, said of fellow Liverpool teammate Diaz: “He is a friend. He suffered a lot these days.
“This is beyond soccer. He deserves it.”
Colombian outlet El Espectador spoke to Diaz about what Alisson had told him at full time.
“Alisson told me he’s very happy because he knows what we went through,” said Diaz.
“He is a great person, I admire him a lot because off the field he is a great human being and he gave me all the support I could have to be calm in those difficult moments.”
The father of Luis Diaz spoke last week for the first time since he was released by kidnappers who had held him captive, spending 12 days trekking through mountains with almost no sleep.
He said: “It was a lot of horseback riding, really hard, a lot of mountains, a lot of rain, too many insects.
“I couldn’t sleep peacefully, it was very difficult, almost 12 days without sleep.
“I still have not been able to understand what was the cause of my kidnapping, [the guerrillas] said that I have no problems with anyone.”
Díaz, who runs a football foundation for children in the local area, said he had been treated better as soon as he was handed over to the guerrillas on the third day and that his captors promised to free him as soon as possible.
“They told me to be calm, that nothing was going to happen to me, knowing that I was a humble and loved person in my town for the work I do.
Luis Diaz’ father said that he was able to speak to his son on Thursday as he was released before the Liverpool player played against Toulouse.
“I had the opportunity to say hello to him before he played a game for his club. [And he was] content, happy, because I was already with my family.”
Twitter users reacted as Luis Diaz scores twice in three minutes leaving his father in tears with Colombia managing to beat Brazil…
@RachelJuly2009: A bit of his mind must probably have thought he’d never see his son play again. So happy for him.
@davenoatte: This is great
@Firthy_6: Awesome. Couldn’t write it
@deansjambo: What a moment for him and his dad
@Den_AFC: Now this is the content you love to see on a Friday morning. 🥹
@DavidGArmitage: Life is more important than football but this is a great example of the beauty of the beautiful game.
@LeeCuthbert9: What a feeling that must of been, priceless!
@JakeDawson7: Can’t write football sometimes can you… Diaz scoring a brace within 5 mins to turn the game around and win v Brazil, both him and his dad in tears celebrating, unreal stuff 🥲
@Yerhyasandere: This made the entire international break worth it. What a beautiful moment for his family.
@DarrenJones1997: Football aside class this 💙❤️
@IamDanMahoney: Beautiful that Diaz scores 2 goals against Brazil in front of his dad last night ❤️

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